Running Nose Like Water

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Health is encouraging all Tennesseans over the age of 6 months to receive this year's flu vaccine. Vaccinations for flu will be free on Wed., Nov. 9, 2022, at all local health departments in the state for Fight Flu '22 . ''Getting a flu shot is the most important thing we can all do to help prevent the flu and keep ourselves, loved ones and everyone around us healthy,'' said TDH Commissioner Morgan McDonald, MD FACP FAAP. ''We know flu vaccines are safe, effective, and protect against the most common types of flu circulating, so I urge everyone eligible to receive a flu shot to do so.'' No appointments are needed to receive a free flu vaccine during Fight Flu '22 . Find the site closest to you and the hours of operation at www.tn.gov/health/fightflu and select the Find a Flu Shot Near You icon. The flu vaccine will continue to be free at Tennessee's county health departments after the Fight Fl...

Elderberry has been used to treat colds, the flu and more in folk medicine for centuries. But can the remedy really boost your immune system? (Getty Images) Elderberry has been used to treat colds, the flu and more in folk medicine for hundreds of years. Hippocrates, the father of medicine, even called the elder tree his "medicine chest." With cold and flu season overlapping with the COVID-19 pandemic, elderberry has become a go-to treatment for some. But can this popular remedy really boost your immune system? What is elderberry? Elderberry is a tart, dark purple berry from the Sambucus nigra tree, also known as the European or black elder tree. The trees are native to Europe and grow in North America, Asia and Northern Africa. The berries are packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Their flavonols, phenolic acids and anthocyanins help counteract oxidative stress, but sometimes the processing of elderberries can lower this beneficial impact. Elderberries are commonl...

Saline sprays, corticosteroids, antihistamines and decongestants – oh, my! There are several over-the-counter and prescription nasal sprays on the market. Knowing which one to use – and how – is key to ensuring you get the best results, whether you're dealing with allergies, a sinus infection or a cold. Below, we explain the different types of nasal sprays and how to use them. Types of nasal sprays Nasal spray works by spraying medication or saline directly into your nose to relieve congestion and symptoms of seasonal allergies, sinus infections or the common cold. Options include: Saline spray – Saline nasal sprays contain a mixture of water and salt. They are designed to lubricate and flush out nasal passages, relieving nasal dryness, nosebleeds and congestion associated with seasonal allergies or other conditions. They do not contain medication, making them safe for people of all ages, including anyone pregnant or nursing. They are also an excellent option for p...

Taxpayer-subsidized government healthcare is not making people healthier.  New data shows that the use of psychotropic drugs among Medicaid beneficiaries is projected to reach an all-time high for the third consecutive year. With one in every five Medicaid prescriptions in Idaho written for these drugs, there exists a serious problem with mental health throughout the Gem State. Psychotropic drugs are generally used to treat mental health conditions like anxiety, depression and mood disorders. In 2016, there were just under 400,000 claims for such medications. Since then, the use of these drugs has increased significantly, with claims growing 86% as of 2021.  Estimates for 2022 say that Idaho Medicaid will spend $91 million to cover just short of one million claims for psychotropics by the end of the year. Figure 1 Medicaid expansion and the COVID-19 pandemic both started in early 2020, as did the steep increase in psychotropic use. In t...

As the flu spreads across campus surpassing COVID-19 infection rates, IU experts urge people to prioritize taking their flu shot since the flu has made a more common appearance among students.  Beth Rupp, medical director at the IU Student Health Center, said the center has seen over 60 cases of the flu in the past week, compared to the under 10 COVID-19 cases they have seen. She said she urges people to get their flu and COVID-19 shots, which are safe to receive at the same time.  Since fewer people are masked up, Rupp said it is particularly important for people to get their vaccine to ensure healthy and safe interactions. She said collective fatigue towards COVID-19 and the flu explains why people are not taking precautions, in turn contributing to greater spread of the flu on IU's campus.   "Both flu and COVID-19 can cause serious illness in anybody," she said.&n...

OREGON — The Ogle County Health Department is warning area residents of an increase in gastrointestinal (GI) illness outbreaks and encourages people to take action to prevent the spread of the virus. "GI illnesses can be highly contagious, spreads quickly from person to person and cannot be treated with antibiotics. Symptoms of GI illnesses include diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and stomach pain that usually last between 24 hours and 48 hours. Anyone with GI illness should stay home when sick and for 24 hours after experiencing vomiting or diarrhea," the health department posted on social media Monday afternoon. Health officials said "good hygiene practices are important for everyone to prevent the spread of illness" and recommended people take the following steps recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to assist in the prevention and spread of GI viruses: • Frequently wash your hands, especially after using t...

What Is Claritin? Claritin ( loratadine ) is an over-the-counter (OTC) medication used to treat symptoms of seasonal or year-round (perennial) allergies and hives in adults and children. It does not prevent hives or prevent or treat a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis). Claritin is part of a class of drugs known as antihistamines. During an allergic reaction, your body releases histamine. When it binds to specific receptors in your body, histamine can cause allergy symptoms like itchy, watery eyes and a runny nose. Antihistamines work by decreasing the effects of histamine in your body. Claritin is a second-generation antihistamine, which is a newer type of antihistamine. Newer antihistamines work just as well as second-generation ones but are not sedating. Loratadine is available in tablets, chewable tablets, capsules, and syrup. Several brand-name loratadine products are available, including Claritin and Alavert. You can also find generic options. ...

CNN  —  Welcome to this year's flu season. This year's flu strain has already begun spreading across the United States, according to new data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There have been at least 880,000 cases of influenza, nearly 7,000 hospitalizations and, tragically, 360 deaths from the flu this fall, including one pediatric death. Not since 2009, during the height of the H1N1 swine flu pandemic, have there been this many cases of influenza so early in the season. Despite these numbers, many people wonder if the flu is really that serious of an illness. What's the benefit of the vaccine, especially if some people may still get the flu despite being vaccinated? Could you get the flu from the vaccine? If you get the Covid vaccine, do you still need the flu vaccine? To guide us through these questions and more, I spoke with ...

If you have arthritis joint pain, you know that using a medicated gel such as Voltaren directly over the achy area can help. Like other topical gels, creams, and lotions for painful joints and muscles, Voltaren gel for arthritis is applied onto the skin for soothing relief. This pain-relief gel is available over the counter, meaning you won't need a prescription from a doctor to buy it. But it's important to remember that Voltaren contains active medicated ingredients and may not be everyone. Here's more on using Voltaren gel for the temporary relief of arthritis joint pain. Voltaren is the brand name for a topical pain relief gel for arthritis pain that contains the medication diclofenac sodium, its active ingredient. You might find similar gels for joint pain by the generic name of "diclofenac gel" or "diclofenac sodium gel." However, they may not have the exact same ingredients or amounts of diclofenac as Voltaren gel. Over-the-counter (OTC) Voltaren ...

There's nothing novel about a child coming home from school in November with a runny and stuffy nose or a cough. But for parents, the stakes feel especially high right now: Is it just a cold? The flu? Or are these tell-tale signs of RSV or COVID? Why it matters: Some of the symptoms of the flu, the respiratory virus and the coronavirus are relatively similar, making it difficult for parents to distinguish between the illnesses as cases are spiking nationwide. And many Americans may be too COVID-fatigued to fret about the reality of a "tripledemic," Axios' Adriel Bettelheim reports. Zoom out: Care could also be impacted by the national shortage of health care workers, which continues to exacerbate hospitals' workloads. Here's an overview of symptoms of RSV, the flu and COVID-19 in children — and what parents should know. RSV symptoms in kids RSV is very contagious and a common illness in children, with most having had an RSV infection by their second birthday,...